Best of 2001: Best Locally Made Cat Treat

Back in 1996, San Diegan Todd Myrick's cat gave him an idea. Every time it got around bonito fish, it went wild. "Bonito have that rich 'fishy' smell," he says, "because they have so much oil. That's why they're good for bait." So on a whim, Myrick started buying bonito fillets, shaving them into flakes, drying them, and selling them in cans as "Kitty Kaviar." "It has been totally amazing," he says. "We're now distributing nationwide and in Canada. Cats really love it." The half-ounce can contains nothing but dried bonito flakes. No additives or preservatives. And analysis shows it's 75 percent protein. It's good as a persuader, sprinkling on food that cats won't eat, or as stand-alone treats. Treats cost $3.75 to $4.25. Find them at Pets Uptown, Pet Stop La Jolla, and the Daily Pet in Solana Beach.